Two things are unacceptable: I keep forgetting to buy butter, and there’s a spider on my ceiling that my cat can’t reach.
Two solutions have presented themselves: Make vegan cookies, and construct some sort of winged apparatus to send my cat into flight, thus into spider hunting range.
So far, I’ve got the cookies. The cat wings have proven more difficult. This mancat of mine doesn’t seem very aerodynamic. Why don’t cat tails double as some sort of cat helicopter blade? That would solve this stupid spider situation for sure.
Sunflower seeds covered in chocolate and a hard candy shell. The candy shell makes them precious, darling, and edible by the fistful.
Ps. The sunflower seeds are less than vegan. Vegan chocolate chunks are a great replacement for those of you who are down with the vegan thing.
These cookies are adapted from my favorite vegan cookie recipe from Organic and Chic. The original recipe is for spicy ginger cookies. They’re dense, cakey, cookie biscuits. I love them.
Applesauce, oil, and flax seed meal moisten these cookies, giving them a chewy bite and ample body.
Yea… these cookies have body.
Chocolate, espresso powder, and a touch of cinnamon are all packed into this batter. The sunflower seeds make these cookies spring, sprung, flowery, and bright… vegan chocolate chunks would also be wonderful.
Rolled in sugar and slightly under-baked, I think these cookies are a treat. I have a giant bag of them in my freezer. I share… I’ll probably share.
Recipe adapted from Organic and Chic.
[amd-recipeseo-recipe:5]
**For extra deliciousness: add 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients, sift together, and proceed as recipe instructs.
Charlotte
There seems to be a glitch in the site/maybe on my end, but this is my FAVORITE cookie recipe and I want to make them tonight? Anyway you can email me the hard copy?
Thank you!
joythebaker
Sorry I’m responding late, hope you figured it out.
Marie
The recipe isn’t showing up when I hit “print recipe.” Can you share how you adapted it from the ginger cookies? Thanks!
I always enjoy your recipes.
Elisabeth
These look and taste delicious. Unfortunately I cannot see the recipe anymore. I tried with two different computers and browsers. Also clicking “Print this Recipe!” produces a blank page. Is this just me? I only saved the link and not the recipe itself…
Delia
I recently stumbled across your blog when trying to find an egg substitute (I used your suggestion of 1T ground chia seeds, 3T water, let sit, then add a pinch of baking powder right before using). I really enjoy reading your recipes, and your humor, and I have quite a few of your recipes on my To Bake list. This would be at the very top of the list, if the recipe showed up!! Please help!!!
Also, these are (obviously) a chocolate cookie. How do you think it would turn out if I left out the cocoa powder? I’m not a huge chocolate cookie fan… Sometimes I even make chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips; though I’m not really sure what that would be called.
Hoping to see this recipe soon!!!
joythebaker
The cookies would probably turn out fine without the cocoa powder.
weknowwho
Joy, can you please post this recipe again!!!
Catherine Speed
your recipe will not show up when I try to print it. I can not find the ingredients and instructions anywhere.
weknowwho
Where is the recipe?!
Erin
As an FYI, this recipe is no longer displaying on this page.
joythebaker
Thanks for the heads up Erin! I’ll try and see what’s up with that darn recipe…
Sarah
Holy yum!!! I’m definitely pinning this!!! They’re low calorie and easy! That’s the perfect combo in my opinion. I had featured U in tne post of Top 7 Charming Cookies with Pretty Appearance and Palatable Flavor
on AllFreshRecipes. Except ur more fabulous recipes!
Elle
Joy, do you think it’s possible to substitute the flax seed meal with ground chia seeds? Thanks! :-)
joythebaker
No, I don’t think so. They cook totally differently.
Melinda
Hi Joy!
What could I sub in place of the oil? More applesauce?
Thanks!
Sherlock
These were ok. Kind of bland. I do like how thick and soft they are though. I’ll make them again with some modifications.
Gina
Hi Joy! I was going to make these cookies this weekend, for some reason the recipe is not showing up? :(
sharon
these are my (and my family’s) favorite cookies ever, vegan or no! instead of chocolate chunks (as there was no vegan chocolate in the house) i used crumbled pecans. rolled them in granulated sugar and they baked up so beautifully. oh, and i don’t refrigerate them! instead, i make up the batter and stick the whole bowl in the freezer while the oven preheats and i clean up my mess/grease the pans. i’ve made them three times so far (not including the batch in the oven ;)) and they’re fabulous. thanks for the recipe!
Jacqueline
I made these for halloween! They are so cute with purple, orange, black, and green coated sunflower seeds! Love this recipe :)
Susan
I just spoiled my supper, can’t stop at just one or two or….
I didn’t have the chocolate covered sunflower seeds =o( but will look for them in the future, they are so pretty! This recipe is a keeper, thanks!
Isobelle
These cookies look so lovely! I have seen chocolate covered sunflower seeds in Trader Joe’s so many times but have never checked to see if they were vegan. I would love to make these with chocolate chunks though. Anything with chocolate is hard to resist making :)
Aussie Amanda
Hi Joy! I’ve got my second batch of your cookies in the oven as I type!
I’ve read through some of the comments here and I’m glad to know that I wasn’t the only one that got a crumbly dough to start with (mine was beyond crumbly!! Hahaha), but I ended up adding just shy of a quarter of a cup of soy milk (yep, I’m vegan!) and the dough came together really nicely.
I wanted really big fat cookies, so when I wrapped the dough I rolled it into a big log. When it came out of the fridge I just cut the cookies straight off of the log and onto the baking sheet.
Oh and instead of the candied chocolate sunflower seeds, I used smoked almonds… I can’t wait to try them!!!! :)
Morgan
Joy, is the flax seed meal necessary? I stumbled upon some chocolate covered sunflower seeds at World Market and nearly died (since we don’t have Trader Joe’s in Texas..yet)…and then bought three packages of them. Anyway, I’ve got everything else but the flax, do I need it??
joythebaker
yes! the flax seed meal adds moisture and is a replacement for eggs.
Guppy
I’ve finally worked up the courage to comment on these—which are now my favorite cookie. I actually make them with mint (and orange extract/zest and almond–tasted like chocolate marzipan, yum–once each) and have yet to try vanilla. Although I’m by no means vegan, I really appreciate the healthy alternative. :)
starseed
Joy, these are amazing! My sister says they were sent from heaven… Thanks for sharing :)
Katie
um, i made these. they are amazing.
i’m in canada so i don’t have trader joe’s sunflower seeds, but i did have a box of Toffifee (tah-fah-fay) which i chopped up and mixed in. not vegan. but absolutely delicious. THANK YOU!
Jessica
I am going to try these! Thanks for sharing. Beautiful photos!
JMT
These cookies are NOT Vegan if you use the coated sunflower seeds. My girlfriend’s husband is Vegan and I had hoped to make these for him when they attended my annual Easter brunch. I have a number of delicious Vegan recipes that I prepare for him. These looked so pretty with their pastel-colored coated sunflower seeds that I headed right off to Trader Joe’s to buy them. Unfortunately, using these in your “Vegan” cookies makes them non-Vegan. They contain milk powder which is an absolute no-no when serving Vegan guests. Since my TJs only carries these, I searched on-line to see if I could find a brand without animal by-products to no avail. In fact, some even contain gelatin in the candy coating which comes from animals. Although I will not be adding the sunflower seeds to these cookies :-( , I am planning on making them with Vegan chocolate chips. It is important to be informed about ingredients and add a disclaimer when labeling anything that is being marketed to a specific population like Vegans. If you have a source for Vegan coated sunflower seeds, would you please share it? I would really like to make these as pictured. They look so Easter-y! Thanks.
joythebaker
dude… there’s totally a disclaimer about the non-veganness of the chocolate coated sunflower seeds in the post. i suggest adding vegan chocolate chips instead of the coated sunflower seeds. so… yea.
also… i’m afraid i don’t have a source for vegan coated sunflower seeds.
Amy W
I spoiled. I told my mom I NEEDED chocolate covered sunflower seeds from TJ’s… but I didn’t tell her what they were for. The dough is in the fridge. It’s a good thing I’m going to a baseball game or I would be counting down the seconds until I could whip it back out of the fridge.
I think a decent way to describe the dough (albeit not very appetizing) would be ‘dirt’. It reminds me of slightly moist dirt. Except dirt doesn’t stick together quite like the dough does. The color is almost exact, and the “crumbliness” looks like dirt. And it’s super tasty.
jessie
Wow…those sugar coated sunflower seeds…where do you get those? Never seen them before in my life! would love to find a source of those that would send downunder…to nz ;)
Love your style of writing..very funny.
love your cooking…very delicious looking! So I guess I love your photography of your yummy food! lol
ciao
jessie
nelson, new zealand
Karissa
The chocolate cookies do look amazing. I need to try these, but without the chocolate candy covered sunflower seeds. I have a weird relationship with them. More like a fling. I received some on Christmas from my boyfriend’s mom and at first, I thought,”Eh..these are a little odd”…but then I couldn’t stop eating them. A day later, I couldn’t bare the sight of them. Made my tummy churn. *shrugs* I’ll probably use walnuts instead–although the colors are undeniably purty. :)
Katie Zuerner
Dear, dear, Joy, could you possibly read all 72 million comments from your adoring fans who hold on to your every blogging word?
I just wanted to say after seeing the sunflower seeds on a trip to T.J’s
Made ’em
ate waaay to many of ’em
took the rest to Grandma
Amazing!
Thanks
Kate
joythebaker
i read em all! hope grandma liked the cookies!
Laurie@TheBakingBookworm
These look amazing! I have a 2 year old nephew with an egg & peanut allergy so I’m always on the lookout for egg-less treats to make when I see him.
Question: Where do you find chocolate covered sunflower seeds? I’ve never seen them in my part of the world (ie. southern Ontario, Canada). Can you buy them online? They look great!
Laurie@TheBakingBookworm
I see from an earlier post that you got the sunflower seeds from Trader Joe’s — who aren’t in Canada :( Perhaps a trip over the border is in order. :)
cole
Any ideas as to why my batter doesn’t stick together?? It’s moist but REALLY crumbly even after I mixed it with my hands. When I put the cookies on the baking sheet they kept falling apart… ;(
joythebaker
crumbly batter. mine was thick, but still held together. perhaps add just a bit more applesauce.
Manda
Is the dough supposed to be really dry and crumbly???
joythebaker
it’s a thick dough, but it’s not supposed to be dry and crumbly. hm…
Sarah
Mine was also very dry and crumbly. I added about 1/4 cup extra applesauce, and 1/8 cup more oil. Seems to be a good dough now.
gayle
I live in the Milwaukee, WI, area, and chocolate covered sunflower seeds aren’t available. :( Tho, when I called the local Whole Foods, the very nice grocery guy, Ethan, said he’s gotten several calls lately about them, and is checking into them. I bet the calls are from everyone who’s read this blog!
Joanne
Joy, where did you get those sunflower seeds?
joythebaker
trader joe’s.
Lauren (Diary of a Vegan Girl)
Wow these look delicious!
Hannah
I made these last night and they were a huge hit! (I made them without sunflower seeds and added cinnamon but not coffee) :)
My batter was a bit dry, though, so I added another 1/4 cup oil and 1/2 cup water and that did the trick.
5/5 stars
Belle
Hi Joy! I’m also in LA, and I’ve been to two Whole Foods, and Trader Joes, and Ralphs (all on the West Side)and can’t find these lovely pastel covered seeds. Where did you find yours? Thanks!
joythebaker
i found mine at the Trader Joes on Pico in Santa Monica. I’m sorry you’re running all over town!
Belle
Great. Thanks! (They don’t have them at Trader Joes at Olympic & Granville, just FYI)
Christine
I usually find chocolate covered sunflower seeds at Home Goods or Cost Plus/World Market. Michaels even has them around holidays.
Lisa
Belle,
If you are still looking, you can usually find the Sunny Seeds brand at Cracker Barrel and World Market. If you are still having trouble, let me know, and I will do what I can to help. I know some people… ;)
Lisa
Sarah-Anne
yum yum!!
Eris
I need those beautiful sunflower seeds on my life ;o; any chance I can buy them online? on my country there is no such cute thing =(
Seanna Lea
I just finished our chocolate covered sesame seeds (though ours were all white) just last week. I will have to pick a different candy to make them with. Chocolate chips or a bar of something fun.
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles
OMG these look TO. DIE. FOR! I’m obsessed with all things chocolate lately!
what katie's baking
i gotta get some espresso powder, these look awesome!!
hope your cat can fly soon!
Kerry
I just made these, and they’re fantastic! I can’t wait to try the ginger version!
Julie H.
One word. ‘Yum.’
Joy, you add so much joy to my day! :)
Tiffany
My best friend and I love, love your blog! We were just in Santa Monica and as creepy as admitting this makes us sound, we were totally hoping to run into you. Told you. A bit creepy! But creepiness aside, thanks for the amazing recipes and laughs. We do love you (creepiness continued :) haha).
joythebaker
i love this!
Deb in Indiana
We just had the critter on ceiling issue, too, but the critter was a bird. He/she came in through the back door (i left it open to put the dog out…) and hid way up on a top shelf. Corralling the dog and two cats, dragging/carrying each of them away from the kitchen, and locking them up away from the bird, occupied enough time for the bird to move him/herself to another high shelf, over the washer.
I opened up the back door again, and waited somewhat impatiently until my guest found its way back out. He/she was only slightly more relieved than I was.
The dog and two cats, however, are still prowling the house. And giving me disappointed looks.
mariale
que rico!!!!!!!!!!!
Joselin
As soon as I saw this I shared it with my sister who is a vegan. She loves chocolate and says she is going to make this as soon as Lent is over (she gave up chocolate).
Miss B
For the applesauce-averse, extra-soft tofu mixed up with a little bit of soy or almond milk — just enough so that it’s around the consistency of applesauce — works perfectly well for things like this. It’s my favorite way to make vegan brownies; they come out all soft and fudgy and lovely.
Amanda
My dough did not come together like the ginger cookies did. It was dry and crumbly, but I figured I might as well bake it. I smooshed it together, smooshed it in the sugar, and prayed they would at least stay together. Know what? They still taste fantastic, and the baking helped them stay together. Not as chewy as the ginger cookies (which were AMAZEballs), but still rich and chocolately. :)
Our cat thinks he likes to eat spiders. Then they get in his mouth and he freaks out. The attacking still does the trick though. I squirt the ceiling spiders down with a spray bottle, then put the cat near the spider.
Bergie Powers
They are just so pretty!
Shari
I’m in the mood for something dense and fudgy, -like every day. I’ve never made vegan cookies, but I am so willing to try these. I’m wondering….is flax seed meal and ground flax seed the same thing?
Erin E
Joy, you are awesome! Thanks for all you do! Good luck with the spider/cat contraption!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
These are so pretty! I’m not vegan, but not opposed to vegan offerings :) Love the idea to add the coated sunflower seeds rather than basic chocolate chips! Yum.
Gemma
I’ve just come across your website while looking for vegan treat recipes, and I think this is going to be the one! I’m baking birthday cakes to bring to work and I always feel bad that the vegan girl misses out (even though it’s her choice). Is applesauce just cooked apples?
With regards to your other problem, I usually stand on a chair, lift the cat up, and she’ll grab the spider with her paws and gobble it right up. Do be careful not to panic as your hands get near the spid, as cats don’t appreciate being dropped, and will refuse to save you from spiders in the future.
Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
These are adorable. The chocolate coated seeds are the best part – I don’t know why I’ve never seen these before. BTW, how is your birthday list going? It would be fun to have an update, mid-process and then after the fact :)
betty
my eyes widened at that first photo! holy cow.
naomi
ohhhh i love soft cookies. mmm.
Alexis @ There She Goes
Yum, those cookies look so soft and moist! I’ve never made vegan cookies before…
Becca
These cookies look pretty good, but it’s the whole applesauce thing that scares me. I don’t like applesauce and whenever a recipe says to use it, I skip it because I’m afraid of the applesauce taste. But these do look really pretty, and very Springy :)
Rebecca
I promise that you don’t really taste the applesauce….just the goodness.
naomi
all the applesauce does is make things sweet and moist. works really really nicely in chocolate recipes (like brownies!!). :)
Loren
You might try canned pumpkin instead of applesauce.
kerry
those look so pretty!! i love all the colors… they look so easter-y!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
These sound delicious. I love that they’re vegan and chocolate (how can you go wrong with all that chocolate?)
You should just get your cat to stand guard by that spider till it gets within reach for him
Ps. I checked out Organic and Chic after the first time you mentioned it. Its a great book! I love the photos and it has some very creative ideas in it. Thanks
rach
hey joy, these look oh so amazing!
do you have a broom? maybe your cat could stay on the floor, you can gently brush the spider with the broom onto the head of it, and carefully put it outside so it can catch some flies!
Loren
Spider on the ceiling + broom sounds like a recipe for a spider in your hair. Eek!
Toast
This are so great – love the color!
SusanK
Thanks Joy! I’ve just started the 21 day Vegan Kickstart and these look almost (but not quite) too pretty to eat.
Chelsea
These are springy awesomeness!!!! I add cinnamon and espresso to almost everything chocolate I make! SO GOOD!! I absolutely adore your website! You rock!
Le Man and Wife
I have to admit that I’ve never tasted a vegan cookie, but I’ve also never seen a vegan cookie that looked so good. Wish I lived closer so you could share with me! :)
Happy When Not Hungry
These cookies look great and I love the chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Definitely need to grab some!
Heather
Spider solution = vacuum
molly
woah there! now that’s powerful :P
an image of you, joy, wobbling on a chair, using a vacuum to kill a spider, and your cat eating sunflower seeds…. just is so.. beautiful. ^o^
marti
Hahaha! Heather… you’re hilarious. And smart.
Pure2raw Twins
Love all the flavors in these cookies and those candy coated sunflower seeds sound interesting. I love sunflower seeds ;) I love under-baking my cookies, yum
Ryan
Ahhhh this look SO good! I will definitely be making these ASAP! :) I love your siteeee.
diane
If these are as yummy as they are beautiful, I am sold!
ruby n.
super! now i have another recipe to help me utilize that huge container of instant espresso I bought this week to make the espresso white chocolate chip cookies you posted a while back.
p.s. love the flour/cocoa yin-yang
<3
The Teenage Taste
Those cookies look amazing! I love how fluffy and chocolate-y they are.You can never have enough chocolate, that’s for sure. ;]
Chihiro
ooooo I love baking with applesauce! and hard-shelled chocolates, especially pretzel m&ms
Alpha
Beautiful!
I´m a chocolate fan, not a cookie fan. But these cookies look so delicious, so thick & chewy.
I´ll definitely be baking these soon!
Lori
They look both beautiful and delicious! Love the sunflower seeds idea!
Stephanie
These just look like a party. How fun! And you’re totally right on about the candy-coated sunflower seeds and their addictive qualities.
Bethanie
Made half an hour ago. Two down, nineteen to go. Lovin’ every bite.
Thank you, joydabaker.
alana
Never seen sunflower seeds like that! Where can get them? I shop at Trader Joe’s all the time here in DC and haven’t seen them :(
edward
what does “slightly underbaked” mean? raw? me confused….
but i love choco sunflower seeds and you rock joy. booyah!
joythebaker
slightly underbaked means that they’re still a bit soft in the center, dry on top… not wet… but still soft.
edward
thank you joy! from, the edward that DOESN’T bite (haha)- a fan :P
Liz
These look amazing, Joy! I didn’t even know chocolate covered sunflower seed existed until now!
P.S. – My cat is afraid of spiders. At least your cat tries.
joythebaker
sorry about your cat.
Susan (Oliepants)
I like a cookie with a nice body. Gives me something to grab onto. ;)
Rocky Mountain Woman
You had me at “slightly underbaked”
ellen
1. oooh someone didn’t buy god’s gold! haha but you’re living! wow! better than me! :P
2. not sure if you’re serious, but i’m sure by the time that spider’s dead, you’ll be the next einstein. promise. i can see it now! joy, half baker, half genius. or whole if you want :D
Latika
So pretty! Pity we don’t get those amazing looking sunflower seed choc/candy things in my part of the world.
Merage
For those wondering where to get the chocolate covered sunflower seeds–one option is online, the other is, I’ve found them at specialty candy shops… the kinds that have every kind of candy imaginable (aisles of gummy bears and jelly beans and classic candy and chocolate flavors.) But I would call a few ahead of time just to make sure. :)
Channon
You can usually find them at the higher end healthy grocery stores too, like Whole Foods and Fresh Market. And I usually see them at those clearance department stores like TJ Maxx or Khols too.
Holly B @ Recipes from a Normal Mum
Wow. They are beasts. I like my biscuits to be beast like.
Channon
On the flying cat note… I had a system with my cat whereby I would pick him up, stand on something like a chair or couch or table and hold him up at arms length. He would swat the nasty bug(gar) down to the floor for me, then I’d set him down so he could he it. Perfect.
We haven’t had to do it since we moved from that house in the woods, but it was a perfect system. He was dying to get the bug and could not reach it. I was dying for it to be eliminated, but could not do it myself due to the Ewwwww factor.
Give it a try.
joythebaker
i like your brain.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
These look so, so good!!! I’ve seen several cookie recipes now with sunflower seeds!! Must get some!
Jessica @ bake me away!
The sunflower seeds look like little Easter eggs!
As for the spider, sometimes I wish I had one of these dumb things: http://www.hammacher.com/Product/73620
elizabeth / sophisticated pie
Too cute!! Ahh… I love how these look with the candied sunflower seeds. I’m sort of freaking out…. I’ve had too much coffee :)
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
These cookies are so fun!! LOVE the colorful chocolate covered sunflower seeds!
Hannah
I never thought I would say this (given my bacon obsession) but.. you make me want to go vegan.
Gen
ow this looks gorgeous! Very chocolaty, and applesauce? This is original, I should try it!
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
I NEED some choco seeds – where can I find these?
On a lighter note (ew, sorry) can you, perhaps, attach some suction cup shoes to Man Kitty’s paws and then simply fling him up on to the ceiling? He will stick, deal with suspect spider, and then make his graceful exit one suctioned step at a time back down to the floor.
Best lay some gym mats down pre-fling, just in case.
Cathy Rosenberg
Hi,
Will try these for sure. I made up a recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies that has become my claim to fame. They are tastier than ANY chocolate chip cookie ever. You would never know they’re vegan or not full of good things that aren’t good for you! Glad to see someone else tinkering around with recipes based on having or not having ingredients!
paddleattachment
These pictures are amazing! Vegan never looked so good!
Rebekah
Where can I get these sunflower seeds?
Ellie@fitforthesoul
awwww! I remember growing up, I used to eat choc covered sunflower seeds all the time!! it’s like, a really old Korean favorite for kids. This looks delicious and brings back memories :)
Ruth
For the commenter from Alberta – Try looking at Bulk Barn. I have seen the chocolate covered sunflower seeds there. Also I thik that spitz makes some that I have seen in coop gas stations etc.
Clara
Joy- these cookies made my heart swell, they’re beautiful and so appropriate for spring/ Easter.
Rebecca
I kind of want that next-to-last picture to be one giant cookie. yum.
Lizy B
Cookies look yummy! Dying to try the candy coated sunflower seeds!
About the spider…..we find the mini marshmallow gun to be strangely satisfying…..
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer
I love the body in these cookies. They look great, choco covered seeds sound delish to me! I like the colors, I haven’t seen those around before. Now I will be looking :)
Butta Bean's Ya Ya
You had me at “dense, cakey, cookie biscuits” add “rolled in sugar and slightly under baked” and I’m a goner!
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen
Those look so delicious! I will have to look for the sunflower seeds
Helena
I’ve made the ginger cookies, and they were awesome. I think I know what I’ll do next :)
Claire @ Un Bello Aperitivo
Wooow. Those little chunky cookies look like heaven to me. I’m getting all sorts of ideas like shaping them into egg shapes and baking them with sunflower seeds on top to look like Easter eggs. Must buy sunflower seeds (but mostly for snacking; who am I kidding?).
Linda J-H
Sounds like you need to read Catwings (and the sequels) by Ursula LeGuin!
gia!
That was a good series. :)
sheila @ Elements
These are adorable, Joy!!!! Perfect for Easter! I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t share. :)
Heidi @ Food Doodles
Yum! I’m so saving this recipe. Any chocolate cookie recipe that specifically says “under-baked”. Awesome!
Zoe
Those candy covered sunflower seeds got my attention. Don’t have a trader joes here in Alberta, Canada, and I’ve never seen them before, but I bet they would be great in a trail mix.
As far as the spider goes – I say let it live on the celling. So long as it stays up there it’s more likely to eat any stray mosquitos that find their way into your house, and if it does come down from the celling – if your cat is anything like my cats, will kill the spider for you.
Abby M
Zoe! you can find the coated sunflowers all over the place.. Spitz make them. I live in “rural” BC and we have them in the corner store.
Olga
Hey Zoe – I’m in Ontario and am able to find the candy coated sunflower seeds at Bulk Barn. They are muy delicioso!
Trisha
I am so excited! My 2 yr. old daughter is allergic to dairy, eggs, and peanuts so to find a cookie recipe she can eat is near a miracle! She will be the happiest little girl to be able to eat a chocolate cookie!
Jacqui
I always make vegan cookies when I don’t have butter in my kitchen! I love them either way. Besides, who can say no to a cookie!
Jesse
yum, these cookies look soft as pillows. i think i’ll curl up in bed with a book and these cookies this weekend. a nap may happen as well.
Megan
Prettiest cookies! I love the colors of those sunflower seeds. They are the sprinkles, I’ve never met!
Terris@Freeeatsfood.com
You are awesome Joy. I think one of the most important traits of a successful baker, chef, caterer, is flexibility. Not everyone has it, but if you do, you will always be all right! At my house I call it, “making something out of nothing.” Missing a few key ingredients will never stop me…..I will just have to come up with a substitute ingredient or make do. Thanks for the recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Lucy @ The Sweet Touch
Mmmmmmmmmmm, cookie-y!
I love any cookie rolled in sugar!
jen @ the baked life
1. not buying butter, tsk, tsk. The cookies still look amazing.
2. Cat/spider/tail helicopter program. Here’s what I do, Lift the cat in the air so they can reach said disgusting spider and then they will swat it to the ground where you drop the cat, run away and peek from around the corner, hoping your cat is eating the spider. Now in our house, the big cat likes to play with the spider but the little cat noms the spider immedialely. So I always use the little cat. Plus she’s not a man beast of a cat aka she’s not heavy.
Adventures of a crazy cat lady.
withinseason
This is going to sound crazy: but there’s also making butter! Assuming you have cream hanging around, it’s so so easy. 10 minutes to butter town, that’s a promise! It’s really just a matter of starting to make whipped cream and forgetting to turn off the blender (stop when the buttermilk started splashing … or aim said splashing at said ceiling spider?). Just press out the lingering buttermilk, rinse in cold water, and ta-da!
jen @ the baked life
I might have to visit butter town soon.
Sonia
I second that
Lauren
These look so fun and delicious!!! I’m going dairy-free for Lent so this is JUST the kind of recipe I’ve been looking for!
Melissa Vanni
Beautiful photos & the cookies sound yummy!
Nikki @ The Tolerant Vegan
These cookies are AWESOME! I picked up those same sunflower seeds at TJ’s and told myself that I would use them to make something awesome, but then approximately 6 minutes later they were all in my tummy. It happens.
Hilary
Your my new hero. I love your blog. It was just sent to me and Im hooked!!
Tia
You could always try shooting a rubber band at the spider to get him down, or use a wrist rocket slingshot with small rocks or clumps of silly putty. Or just use a really long extension of a vacuum cleaner…
Carissa
These look so good!!! I love how the sunflower seeds make them springy. And I love how fat they are. It makes me imagine that they’re like a brownie inside.
nancy k.
Thses cookies look wonderful. I try not tp purchase the coated sunflower seeds as thet are totally dangerous…once the package is opened I just can’t stop consuming them. They are yummy for sure.
Isn’t Trader Joe’s a fun place to find chocolate stuff…love the mini peanutbutter cups too.
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
I love the sunflower seeds and the look of the cookie. Nice.
CobyLyn
gorgeous and tasty looking, perfect for Easter celebrations.
*love*
Kartik @ Bakeology 101
Joy, these cookies look fantastic – as my family (but not me – must be a genetic thing) is for the most part are very close to being vegan, so it’s nice to have something that I can make for them that they can enjoy.
Those candy coated sunflower seeds look really awesome – I didn’t know that they made those – I’m more familiar with the toasted regular version.
Thanks again (as usual) – Kartik
Catherine
When I read the word “vegan” in the title I was not sold but the more you described them the more I can over to the other side!
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
LOVE the picture of the sunflower seeds!
Anne @ Baking Me
When my cat sees a spider she usually knocks it off the wall and onto the floor then it runs away as fast as it can. She looses interest and I am stuck trying to figure out how to get the spider myself.
These cookies look delicious and I love the addition of colorful sunflower seeds!
Ali @ Three Baking Sheets
My cat also lacks a propeller tail so I usually end up hoisting him towards the ceiling critter. It’s sort of like the physical challenge on Double Dare but without the promise of an Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Lovely cookies, Joy.
nancy k.
I also resort to hoisting my cat up to reach a spider or bug she is obsessing about. if I don’t she chatters and meows endlessly. She is less than a dainty girl so when I lift her, I like to think it counts as a bit of bicep work.
DessertForTwo
How perfect for Easter!! Thanks for sharing :)
brandi
love the pop of color from the sunflower seeds! these would be so fun to wrap up in a little easter basket.
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul
Oh my God Joy, these are gorgeous, I want one right now!
I love it when you make vegan treats, it shows so many people that vegan desserts can look fabulous and taste AWESOME!
However, I think Trader Joe’s needs to make a vegan candy covered sunflower seeds, or maybe I’ll do it : )
B. in the Know
You had me at vegan – but serisously, these cookies look so delicious! I might be making them tonight!
Much love,
B
Rebecca A E
Perfect for Easter! So adorably delicous! And yeah I’m kinda surprised that sunflower seeds aren’t vegan?! Why do they put Gelatin in there? Rude.
Alicen
AND the sunflower seeds look like teeny tiny Easter eggs. So they’re perfect! I am on the edge of burnout, having no time off from Christmas to the ridiculously late Easter weekend, so I’m hanging on everything right now that even makes me think of the glorious long weekend coming up!
Ashlae
Aaaand, I just looked at the ingredients on the bag – they are dairy free! Who lies to their girlfriend?
Michelle
Little fat bottom cookies. The candy makes them sparkle. These would last like an hour in my house, and it would only be me and the darn cat.
Ashlae
These look so dense, rich and amazing! I cannot wait to try them. And chocolate-covered sunflower seeds are vegan? My boyfriend always tells me they have dairy in them – sounds like someone just doesn’t want to share their sunflower seeds with me. Argh!
Valeria
instead of sending the cat, why don’t you try to attire the spider a bit closer? what if the spider is vegan and wants to try one of those? can you share one with him? :) that would be a nice death!
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living
As someone who rarely bakes with butter, (I know, I know… shame on me), these healthier cookies really appeal to me. Applesauce and canola oil are staples in my fridge, as are cocoa powder and ground flaxseed meal. I might just have to make these this afternoon!
The Blue-Eyed Bakers
Goodness those look like dense little chocolate dreams…!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
Those look so festive!
I wonder if the sunflower seeds are vegan :/
Melinda
These cookies are so colorful! I’d probably end up using chocolate chunks..but mostly because I will have eaten all the candy coated sunflower seeds before they could get into the cookies!
Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie
Spiders. Gross. At least you can eat these cookies to tale your mind off it!
Andrea
Cat wings! I love it. You’d better put some sort of steering apparatus in there for the more directionally and spatially challenged kitties…like my Barnabus. He still gets lost in the house…12 years later. Wings would be a sure ticket to constant APBs on the flying doofus.
ellen
Please enlighten me: What about the sunflower seeds is not vegan? The type of chocolate?? MAN, I need those!!
joythebaker
the type of chocolate makes them not vegan. there’s some sort of milk powder in the chocolate. some nerve!
ellen
AHHH, hence the term “milk chocolate”. hee hee. Thank you for the lesson!!
courtneylaurel
Chocolate powder, like for baking, is vegan, but chocolate in candy and chocolate chips isn’t; there’s dairy. Carob is an ok substitute, though.
courtneylaurel
I like this recipe. You’re a creative lady.
Sweets by Vicky
It looks like a cookie circus. All that balancing and colours, plus it’s vegan and much healthier to boot. It’s like a crazy skillful little smart cookie. Love! I totally foresee mine chockful of vegan chocolate chunks.
homegrown countrygirl
“Cookie circus” totally made me smile! (As did looking at these thick, chewy looking cookies… yum!)
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
Vegan and wonderful looking!
The photography rocks! I recently have been buying and reading books on food styling and in one of the books, they show how they get really tall stacks of cookies/cakes to “balance” without tipping by using giant toothpicks. I doubt you went to those lengths so I am impressed with that last pic. Big time. Nice balancing skills!
Alma
I keep forgetting to buy butter too.
I was going to buy some today but now I think I’m going to buy applesauce and flax seed meal instead and bake these awesome vegan cookies.
Anyway, I love your blog!
It made me smile in spite of the horrible weather we had this winter here in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (ok… maybe it wasn’t so horrible, but it was horrible enough for a Spanish girl like me who loves the sun!! haha)
Thank you for sharing all these delicious recipes ;)
Heather (heather's dish)
i too have a spider on my ceiling that i can’t reach…and what’s worse, no ladder to even attempt to get it. sigh. at least i have the stuff to make these cookies!
Victoria from London
Funny AND beautiful!
dragon fruit
Damn I’ve never seen a more delicious looking vegan cookie!! Thanks for sharing!
Katrina
These are super pretty. Love the recipe too!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
I love vegan cookies because I get the allusion that they are healthy:-) These look really delicious!
Andrea
Does your cat stare at the spider longingly, then finally give up and come meow at you, as if to say “Mommy, get it for me!!!”
Mine does. I think we’ve spoiled her.
Sarah
I actually smiled when I saw that cookie on your blog today. Even though the weather continues to be total crap in the Northeast. Thanks for the beautiful cookie recipe!
Three-Cookies
Replace sugar with honey and the cookies could be sold at health food stores, even doctors may recommend it:)
You could leave a few lying around and maybe the spider will become attracted to it, the hardest part is to make sure no one else gets to it before the spider:)
Zoe
Yes but honey would not be vegan.
Alison
Joy, you mentioned cinnamon and espresso powder, but I don’t see them in the recipe. I’m not a vegan, but these look good to me!
Kathryn
OOh delicious, I love the combination of the dark chocolatey colour and the bright sunflower seeds!
LimeCake
Oh my! These cookies are so lovely and fat in the best possible way!
Silvia
Look so good, I’ll have to go for the chocolate chips though, the seeds are not to be found here.
Lena
I’m totally with you, Ruth! Those cookies look so sweet! I’ve never seen those coloured sunflower seeds, but they are a hit!
Ruth
Vegan or not, these look awesome!
Michelle
Wow, those candy covered sunflower seeds look absolutely amazing!! Actually, the cookies look delicious, too, I love the colours :)
Where can you get these little sunflower morsels from? Are they only available in the States?
I live in New Zealand, and have never seen them before!
I’m intrigued :)
joythebaker
the sunflower seeds are from a store called Trader Joe’s.
Jennifer
You can also get them at Williams Sonoma! And these cookies look amaaaazing! I’m a huge fan of your blog…I read it every morning :)